VehicleVerdict

2021 Nissan Rogue problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

The 2021 Nissan Rogue carries two red flags at once: 401 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA and an open NHTSA defect investigation (subject: Inner Tie Rod Failures). It is one of the Rogue years to avoid. Complainants reported 17 injuries in total across these filings.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across other (77), electrical system (60), and engine (55), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 4 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

401

NHTSA complaints

10

Recalls

2

Investigations · 1 open

36

Crash-involved

5

Fires reported

17

Injuries

0

Deaths

4

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2021 compare to other Rogue years?

Rogue NHTSA complaints by model year, 2021 highlighted1,002 complaints1999: 1 complaints2007: 5 complaints2008: 615 complaints2009: 433 complaints2010: 421 complaints2011: 509 complaints2012: 434 complaints2013: 849 complaints2014: 607 complaints2015: 730 complaints2016: 750 complaints2017: 863 complaints2018: 1,002 complaints2019: 522 complaints2020: 235 complaints2021: 401 complaints2022: 356 complaints2023: 930 complaints2024: 253 complaints2025: 189 complaints2026: 35 complaints
Rogue NHTSA complaints by model year, 2021 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Rogue years to avoid →

What are the most common 2021 Nissan Rogue problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Other7719%
Electrical System6015%
Engine5514%
Driver Assistance5213%
Fuel System297%
Transmission246%
Steering195%
Body & Structure174%
Brakes164%
Visibility & Wipers143%
Airbags133%
Speed Control82%
Suspension41%
Seat Belts31%
Seats31%
Tires & Wheels31%
Lighting20%
Latches & Locks20%

Does the 2021 Nissan Rogue have recalls?

10 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

25V437000EngineJune 27, 2025 · 443,899 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure.

Consequence

Engine failure increases the risk of a crash. A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire.

Remedy

Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R25A8/A9 and R25B1/B2.

23V791000BrakesNovember 22, 2023 · 2 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Rogue vehicles. The left and/or right rear brake caliper assemblies may be missing an internal bushing, allowing the O-ring seal to move and brake fluid to leak.

Consequence

A loss of brake fluid may reduce braking performance, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the left and right rear brake calipers, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 12, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC933. The two vehicles that were previously inspected under recall 21V-286 and did not receive a brake caliper replacement will need to have the new remedy completed.

22V772000Driver AssistanceOctober 13, 2022 · 27,388 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 Titan, Titan XD, Frontier, and 2021-2022 Rogue vehicles. The in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) system may continuously reboot when the vehicle is restarted, which can result in an inoperative rearview display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence

An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

The IVI software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R22B8, R22C1, and PC923/25.

22V666000Seat BeltsSeptember 1, 2022 · 8,391 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rogue vehicles. The rear seat belts for the left-hand and right-hand rear seats may not retract properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and 209, "Seatbelt Assemblies."

Consequence

Seat belts that do not retract properly may be difficult to operate, preventing their usage, which can increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the rear seat belts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 27, 2023. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC915.

22V527000Electrical SystemJuly 21, 2022 · 10,477 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Rogue, 2022 Frontier, Pathfinder, and Titan rental vehicles. When the Sirius XM subscription is set to "Not Subscribed," it may cause the infotainment head unit to reboot, resulting in an inoperative rearview camera. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

Consequence

An inoperative rearview camera display reduces the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

The Infotainment system software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 29, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R22A5 PC901 PC902.

21V957000Fuel SystemDecember 9, 2021 · 24,793 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Rogue vehicles. Abnormal wear inside the fuel pump may cause it to overheat and fail.

Consequence

Fuel pump failure may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R21B8.

21V474000SeatsJune 24, 2021 · 47,098 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Rogue vehicles. The second-row upper tether wires may have been improperly welded to the seatback frame, preventing a child seat from being securely anchored. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

Consequence

An insecurely anchored child seat can move during a sudden stop or crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the rear seatbacks as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 30, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC812.

21V286000BrakesApril 22, 2021 · 14,054 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Rogue vehicles. The rear left and/or right brake caliper assemblies may be missing an internal bushing, allowing the O-ring seal to move and brake fluid to leak.

Consequence

A loss of brake fluid may reduce braking performance, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the left and/or right rear brake calipers, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 10, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC804.

21V186000Tires & WheelsMarch 17, 2021 · 21 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Nissan Rogue vehicles. The incorrect wheel nuts may have been installed, and may loosen causing wheel vibration.

Consequence

The wheel vibration may break the wheel studs and cause the wheel assembly to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wheel nuts and replace any incorrect ones, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC799.

21V068000Fuel SystemFebruary 11, 2021 · 2,150 units

Defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Nissan Rogue vehicles. The fuel hose may not be secured in the proper position and the fuel tank lock ring may not be fully seated.

Consequence

An improperly secured fuel hose may leak, increasing the risk of a fire. The fuel hose may also disconnect completely, causing the engine to stall and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, reposition and secure the fuel hose and lock ring, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PC791.

Open NHTSA investigations

PE24020

Inner Tie Rod Failures

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received one Vehicle Owner Questionnaire (VOQ) and Early Warning Reporting (EWR) field report data on 2021 Nissan Rogue vehicles with allegations of inner tie rod failures resulting in a loss of steering control. The failures have been reported to occur on either driver or passenger side of the vehicle. In some cases, the vehicle required towing from the failure location for repair service. ODI is opening this investigation to further assess the scope, frequency, root cause, and potential safety-related consequences of the alleged defect leading to loss of steering control on 2021 Nissan Rogue. The ODI report cited above can be reviewed at https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=11554914.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

“Multiple times when exiting car wash going from neutral to drive, car would not shift into drive. Dealership service department unable to duplicate issue. Brake fully pushed down and vehicle would not shift gear. Caused accident second time it happened. Need assistance with this issue as it is not…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · January 4, 2023 · crash

“The car belong to my father. This is the third incident. While he was going out of his property in reverse about 5 miles by hours the car sudently turn off itself making imposible to control the vehicle in any way , no wheel control , no brakes and almost kill his neighbors.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · March 6, 2023 · crash

“The contact owned a 2021 Nissan Rogue. The contact stated that while driving into a parking spot, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle abruptly accelerated crashing into a pole. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The air bags deployed as needed. There…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 3, 2023 · crash

“I was driving forward and following another vehicle. It slammed on the brakes suddenly causing me to hit the back of the vehicle in front of me. I am supposed to have forward collision detection and automatic braking and neither one ever engaged to avoid the crash.”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Driver Assistance · November 2, 2023 · crash

“May 1st, 2023 at approx. 3:30pm There were NO warning lights or messages of ANY kind received. No warning given by mail or phone call from selling agent that was issued March 12th, 2021. Was driving on interstate going south headed home after work. Approx 15 mi from home when smoke starting coming…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · May 1, 2023 · crash · fire

2021 Nissan Rogue — common questions

Is the 2021 Nissan Rogue reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 401 complaints put the 2021 model at #14 of 21 Rogue years, and a defect investigation remains open. It is one of the Rogue years to avoid.

What are the most common 2021 Rogue problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are other (77 complaints), electrical system (60 complaints), engine (55 complaints).

Does the 2021 Nissan Rogue have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns affecting the 2021 Nissan Rogue. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2021 Nissan Rogue under NHTSA investigation?

Yes — an investigation remains open (Inner Tie Rod Failures). An open ODI action means NHTSA is actively assessing a possible defect.

Which Nissan Rogue years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Rogue years to avoid are 2018, 2023, 2017, 2013, 2016, 2015, 2019, 2021. The cleanest record among Rogue years belongs to 1999.

How safe is the 2021 Nissan Rogue?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2021 Nissan Rogue earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.